Where is the farthest you have traveled from home? When I am asked this question I immediately say Germany! My husband and I went there about 5 or 6 years ago for his cousin’s wedding. I have to say it was the best 2 weeks ever! I highly recommend going to Germany. Definitely add it to your bucket list!

This two weeks was quite the experience. It was the first time I ever traveled outside of the United States. To start this experience off we went to the Charlotte International Airport to catch the direct flight to Germany. As we were going through the TSA line there was a TSA officer with a drug dog walking the line. The dog kept hanging around me looking up at me. I looked at my husband asking why the dog kept hanging around. Of course I’m freaking out at this time because I know I don’t have anything for this dog to stay around me. My husband thinking he was being funny said he probably just smells our dogs but if he sits down you’re screwed! You know all those shows of locked up abroad start flashing through your mind even though I wasn’t abroad at the time. So of course I’m starting to sweat now.

I finally get past the dog and go through the body scanner. Of course, you guessed it I had to get patted down. We finally get in the plane and we are off. It’s a long flight so I try to get some sleep, well, I tried but the person behind me kept putting their foot up on the side of the plane where my arm rest was. Really?!

We finally make it to Germany and I meet my husband’s family for the first time after being married for 7 or 8 years. It was definitely a culture shock. For starters, I do not speak any German. So I’m constantly asking my husband what people are saying. After a few days I start catching on to some of the conversations. By the end of the 2nd week my mother-in-law and aunt were quizzing me on German words. I remember being so nervous while we were out in the towns if I had to communicate with anyone. Truth be told a lot of people there speak English unless you go into the old towns.

We visited in the summer months and there is no air conditioning. If you ask for ice for your water or soft drink you get a few cubes in a very small glass. As much as I love Germany I think my husband and I both agreed to not visit in August again. On the flip side, there is so much fresh, delicious food and the sites and views are AMAZING! You walk down the streets in the mornings and you can smell the bakeries and you see the lines at the bakery. Also, the Aldi’s in the States have nothing on the Aldi’s in Germany. There are so many things that are different that it’s too many to list in one post, so I may have to do a couple posts on Germany.

My husband and I spent two full weeks which was not nearly enough time to visit all the places we wanted. During the two weeks we saw some AMAZING places. Amoung those places were the castle at Heidelberg, so many churches (too many to mention), Mannheim, Munich, and my absolute favorite was Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Garmish-Partenkirchen is near Zugspitze which is Germany’s highest point. Pictures do not do this place any justice. When you are there in person the views are stunning! It’s truly a once in a life time opportunity. It was 90 something degrees Fahrenheit where we were staying but at the highest point it felt so good and there was actually snow in some areas. After looking at the pictures tell me how you can not just sit on the deck and enjoy the view.

My second favorite was a cruise down the Rhine river. I highly recommend doing this if you ever go to Germany. The cruise stops at each little town along the Rhine. You are able to get on and off the cruise at these towns. While cruising down the Rhine you see the little towns, castles, vineyards, and cliffs. The cruise is very relaxing and lasts 3 or 4 hours.

My third favorite was the castle at Heidelberg. Again, pictures do not do this castle justice. It is another breathtaking view! This was actually one of the first sights we saw and I have to say walking up to this massive castle made my mouth drop. There is a museum inside the castle you can tour, but seeing the castle itself and the views from this castle is one I will never forget.

Germany is a spectacular place to visit. I encourage you if you ever have the opportunity just go you will not regret it. My trip that started out not as I intended ended up being one of my best trips ever! Put it on your bucket list. Go for your honeymoon, anniversary, girls trip, family vacation…whatever it is just go. There is so much to see and do. My husband will go back. I mean we still have to see the Cinderella castle, go to the Black Forrest, and many other sites to venture to.

I’m sure I will follow-up with more stories from my travels and experience in Germany. Until then, I would love to hear the farthest some of you have traveled from home. Comment below and let me know. One of your destinations may be on my bucket list.

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Here’s to building many more travel memories.

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